Isabel Carleton returns in this third novel devoted to her adventures, following upon Isabel Carleton's Year, which chronicled her senior year of high school, and The Heart of Isabel Carleton, which followed the eponymous heroine on her travels in Europe and through her first semester at college. Here we see Isabel fully immersed in life at the State University in Jefferson (a fictionalized Madison, WI), and now friends with Meta Houston, the somewhat brash western girl of whom she'd been somewhat jealous, in the preceding book. The story presents various episodes from Isabel's family and school life, concentrating on Isabel's growing friendship with Meta and her deepening relationship with Rodney Fox. There are moments of conflict - Isabel's quarrel with her sister Fanny, over the latter's violin sessions; Meta's initial refusal to accept her new step-mother - but also plenty of love and laughter. Alway, in the background, the shadow of WWI, already occurring over in Europe, grows larger. The book closes with an invitation for Isabel to spend the summer holidays with the Houstons in Montana, events chronicled in the subsequent title, Isabel Carleton in the West...

Much like its two predecessors, I enjoyed Isabel Carleton's Friends immensely. Margaret Ashmun writes well, and I appreciated both her description of the beauties of the natural world, and her sensitive depiction of the complexities of human relationships. Isabel is a flawed heroine, and she sometimes acts in haste - her anger at Bobo the cat, for knocking over a vase; her thoughtless words to Fanny, whom she sometimes teases in a careless manner - but eventually her good nature asserts itself, and she tries to make amends. This complexity is unusual in vintage girls' fiction - particularly girls' series fiction - where I often find that the heroine is a paragon. I also appreciate the realistic way that Isabel's grief at the death of her friend Molly, something which occurs at the end of Isabel Carleton's Year, is handled throughout the series. During the course of both The Heart of Isabel Carleton and Isabel Carleton's Friends, we follow her gradual healing process, as she moves from an inability to even look at the lake where the boating accident happened, or to discuss Molly, to a greater sense of peace, and a feeling of happiness at being able to work for the scholarship fund set up in Molly's name. The scene in which she describes to Rodney her feeling that Molly is now a part of all of the life around her, was very moving. Also of great appeal is the Carleton family circle, which is depicted as a close and loving one. Ashmun captures the warmth and happiness of their lives together, a bond that also includes Melissy the maid, and I loved the scene in which Melissy tells off Isabel and Fanny for quarreling.

All in all, this was a wonderfully engaging addition to the series, with an engrossing story and a mixture of humor and pathos that is sure to please readers who enjoyed the first two installments. ( )